Aria opened in 2009 as part of the CityCenter complex in the south central area of the Vegas Strip. The individual parts of CityCenter (Aria Resort and Casino, Mandarin Oriental, Vdara, and Veer Towers) are now referred to individually instead of “CityCenter.” Aria remains attached to the Crystals Mall but the mall has been sold and is no longer technically a part of CityCenter.

Aria is a large casino-resort with over 4,000 hotel rooms and a massive 150,000+ square-foot gaming floor. This moderately priced luxury resort has some of the most technologically advanced and beautiful hotel rooms in Las Vegas. The Sky Suites at Aria is a Forbes Five Star hotel. It is treated as a separate hotel inside of Aria.

The hotel is positioned as a luxury property, although it might be priced otherwise. You can often find midweek prices that rival those of lesser hotels on the Vegas Strip. The same can’t be said for the restaurants. Las Vegas doesn’t have many casino-resorts with as many high-end dining restaurants as Aria. Not only is there a great variety of restaurants to choose from at Aria but many of these restaurants are at the top of their category in Las Vegas.

Hotel rooms

Choosing a room at Aria is simple. You can choose from three options including the 520-square-foot deluxe room, a Tower Suite that’s up to 2,000 square feet or the Forbes Five Star Sky Suite. The entry level rooms at Aria are a notch above many of the entry level rooms at casinos in Las Vegas. These large rooms have 300-thread-count bedding, room for work or relaxation and are among the most technologically advanced rooms in Las Vegas. The 42” HD LCD TV connects to all of your personal devices to the entertainment center. All rooms includes a separate tablet to control lights, temperature, and so forth.

The Tower Suites are a step above the typical hotel room on the Vegas Strip and they’re still not the highest level of hotel room at Aria. When you get to the Aria you’ll check-in from the Tower Suites Lounge where complimentary espresso, tea, juice and soft drinks, light pastries and seasonal snacks are available every day until midnight. The suites vary in size from 920 to 2,000 square feet. Book a corner suite or larger in the Tower Suites and receive luxury round-trip airport transportation to and from the airport.

Last, and certainly not least, are the Aria Sky Suites. These rooms have received the AAA Five Diamond award and are among the best accommodations in Las Vegas. Like the Tower Suites, the Aria Sky Suites have their own check-in lounge. Unlike the Tower Suites, everyone in these suites receives turndown service, personalized concierge, luxury round-trip airport transportation and has its own separate pool from the rest of the hotel. Suites range in size from a 1-bedroom suite that’s just over 1,000 square feet to a 2-story 2-bedroom suite that’s over 2,000 square feet.

Dining

Most casinos on the Vegas Strip are full service and offer different restaurants for every mood. However, Aria has some of the best restaurants in every category of food under one roof. Even with the fine dining, they have something that will work for most price ranges.

Casual

Aria Cafe – Traditional casino cafe that has something for every craving

Casino

The casino has 150,000 square feet of gaming space. The main gaming floor is divided by Alibi Lounge and the high limits gaming area. These dividers help make massive space appear more cozy. The casino floor is laid out with the customer in mind and is intuitive to navigate. The table games are in the middle and surrounded by slot machines toward the lobby end of the hotel. The poker room and sports book are set to the side and have a more private feel than many on Vegas Strip.

One of the best features of the Aria casino is that it offers natural sunlight. You’ll find actual sunlight surrounding the main casino floor and skylights in the high limits room. Despite the natural light, the decor still makes the casino feel somewhat dark even though it’s lit by thousands of new slot machines.

One of the benefits of staying at an MGM Resorts hotel is that you don’t even have to leave your hotel room to gamble. You can take part in the low-roller EasyPlay slot tournaments on your mobile device or place sports wagers with you PlayMGMapp that offers all the same wagering opportunities as the sports book.

Nightlife

Aria has just enough nightlife to offer something for everyone. That said, the lounges, bars, and nightclub aren’t huge and are often more crowded than comfortable. Yes, they’re popular but the spaces might be under-serving the customer. This is rare to see at such a busy casino on the Las Vegas strip. Here’s a look at the nightlife you’ll find at Aria.

Jewel – One of the newest nightclubs on the Vegas Strip always attracts A-List talent

Liquid – Dayclub for when you’re in the party mood when the sun is out

Lobby Bar – A great meeting place just off the main lobby

Lift – Located just off the casino floor serving craft cocktails and offering video poker

Sports Bar – Small bar located by the sports book where you can play video poker and watch the games

Entertainment

Aria closed their showroom to add convention space to the hotel. The casino doesn’t have any show entertainment, but it’s a quick walk to the Park Theater at Monte Carlo and T-Mobile Arena at The Park. If you’re looking for entertainment inside Aria you’ll have to enjoy one of the many bars or nightclub detailed above.

Pool

Aria has a complex of three pools. While this may seem like a lot, these pools are smaller than some other casinos on the Vegas Strip. Lounge chairs are limited and you may have to pay to rent one for the day. Since the hotel has such great service, your best deal at the Aria pools might be to rent a cabana for the day.

Must see attractions

Experiment with the in-room tech – The technology available at Aria is unmatched by any hotel in Las Vegas. In-room tablets let you control everything from electronics to ordering extra towels from housekeeping. You don’t even have to wait to get to your hotel to try the tech. Just check into your room from your mobile phone before arriving at Aria.

Enjoy the art – Aria has paintings, sculptures, and art installations from acclaimed artists as part of their Fine Arts collection. You can find artwork inside and outside of the hotel, casino and the rest of CityCenter.

Get a room near the elevators – The tower hallways at Aria are curved and among the longest in Las Vegas. Save yourself a few minutes each time you walk to and from your hotel room by getting a room closer to the elevator.

Visit Jewel – This is one of the newest nightclubs in Las Vegas. Jewel is managed by Hakkasan Group and has a constant flow of A-List talent come through the beautiful new nightclub.

Try Absinthe for the first time – There are very few bars in America that serve Absinthe. Sage not only has an Absinthe Bar but they have an Absinthe cart that comes around for tableside service.

Aria loyalty club

MGM Resorts International owns and operates Aria. Their loyalty club, M Life Rewards, is one of the largest casino loyalty clubs in Las Vegas. MGM Grand Detroit, Beau Rivage (MS), Gold Strike (MS) and MGM National Harbor (MD) also accept M Life Rewards. The club will expand to Borgata (NJ) soon and MGM Springfield (MA) when it opens.

These casinos outside of Las Vegas make M Life Rewards one of the biggest casino loyalty clubs in the country. You can earn points and credits at any M Life Rewards casino to use at Aria in Las Vegas. M Life Rewards has an array partnerships that allow you to both earn and use rewards outside of the casino.

M Life Rewards can be slightly confusing since you earn different types points at two different rates. You can ear tier credits that allow you to climb status to earn specific benefits. Points accumulate for Express Credits that can be redeemed for shopping, dining, Free Play that can be used in slot machines, and gift shopping points.

Tier levels

Here’s a look at the different Tier levels and how many credits you’ll need to achieve the coinciding benefits for Las Vegas:

Slot machines – 1 point and 10 Tier Credits for every $3 you play (You also earn 1 cent in Express Comps and 1 cent in FreePlay.)

Video poker – 1 point and 10 Tier Credits for every $10 you play (You also earn 1 cent in Express Comps and 1 cent in FreePlay.)

Table games – (blackjack, three card poker, etc.) – Varies on the type of table game you are playing, your average bet and how long you play

Non-gaming – 25 Tier Credits for every $1 you spend

Different tier levels earn points at a different rate:

Sapphire – No bonus

Pearl – 10% bonus

Gold – 20% bonus

Platinum – 30% bonus

Noir – 40% bonus

Tier Credits earned from October 1 to September 30 qualify you for your tier beginning each October 1. If you advance to a higher tier at any time, you’ll enjoy those benefits for at least one full year.

Tier benefits

Each tier you reach with M Life Rewards brings greater benefits. The benefits are only incrementally better since you have 5 tiers. M Life Rewards offers discounts and presale ticketing opportunities for all levels. Being a member has benefits even if you’re just visiting to see a concert and staying elsewhere.

MGM Resorts is the first casino operator to charge for parking on the Las Vegas Strip. If you’re a Pearl member or greater the fees for self-park are waived. Valet fees are waived for Gold members and above. These daily parking fees range anywhere from $8 to $18 per day depending on the property and type of parking. The parking discount is one of the best benefits, along with Tier bonuses and increasing retail discounts. Here’s a look at the benefits for each Tier:

Sapphire

Dedicated reservation line

Access to M Life Moments

Personalized offers at MLife.com

Earn Express Comps

Special offers from partners

Earn Points and convert to Free Play or Express Comps

5% discount at participating retail shops

Earn Holiday Gift Shoppe Points

Pre-Sale Ticket Access to Select Events, Concerts, and Fights

M life Flat Rate Pricing for select MGM Resort shows

Avis Rental Car Discount (at on-property rental counters)

Pearl

Same as Sapphire plus the following

Invitations to Members-Only Events and Tournaments

Extended Expiration For Points and Express Comps

10% Tier Multiplier Bonus on Points Earned at all M life Resorts

10% Tier Multiplier Bonus on Express Comps Earned at M life Resorts

Exclusive Room Discounts or Comps

10% discount at participating retail shops

Buffet Line Pass

Exclusive Seating at Arena Events

Gold

Same as Pearl plus the following

20% Tier Multiplier Bonus on Points Earned at all M life Resorts

20% Tier Multiplier Bonus on Express Comps Earned at M life Resorts

Room Upgrades (view, corner or suite subject to availability)

Priority Hotel Check-in Line

10% discount at participating retail shops

Cafe Line Pass

Fine Dining Priority Reservations

VIP Line Access to Nightclubs and Pool Day Clubs for You and a Guest

Platinum

Same as Gold plus the following

30% Tier Multiplier Bonus on Points Earned at all M life Resorts

30% Tier Multiplier Bonus on Express Comps Earned at M life Resorts

Priority Access to Pool Cabanas and Bungalows

Spa / Salon Priority Reservations

Platinum Experience upon Check-in

15% discount at participating retail shops

Priority Valet Service

Priority Taxi Service

Noir

Same as Platinum plus the following

VIP Lounge Check-in

Guaranteed Hotel Reservations

15% discount at participating retail shops

Guaranteed Dining Reservations

Guaranteed Show Reservations

Complimentary Limousine Service To / From Airport

M Life Rewards partners

M Life Rewards offers members many benefits that extend beyond MGM Resorts hotels and casinos. This program has a large group of preferred partners where you can earn or use rewards for both loyalty clubs.

Current partners include Hyatt, Southwest, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises, Avis, Pinnacle Entertainment (casinos), Cirque Du Soleil, Thunder Valley Casino, Reflection Bay, and Morgans Hotel Group. You can find more information at the bottom of this M Life Rewards overview.

The Hyatt-M Life Rewards partnership is one of the best non-casino partnerships in Las Vegas. You can you earn Tier Credits at over 600 hotels and resorts worldwide. Even better is that M Life Rewards members can get their tier status matched as a Hyatt Gold Passport. This is a great way to climb status without even being in Las Vegas.

Partner properties

M Life Rewards connects 12 casinos around the country including these Las Vegas casinos:

M Life Rewards online

The M Life Rewards website was recently rebuilt. It now looks and feels similar to the rest of the MGM Resorts’ websites. This is a welcome change from previous versions of the website frequently had bugs. The new website looks great and is easy to use.

The current version of the M Life app looks similar to the individual MGM Resorts casino websites but offers information for every property. The app is quick, smooth, easy to read and intuitive. You can sort information in the app by each casino or by the category of information you’re looking for (shows, restaurants, etc.).

This app doesn’t assume the user is an M Life Rewards member and offers all the information you could want. In addition, the app links to all related apps such as MyVegas, PlayMGM and easyPLAY. This is probably the best looking and most functional Las Vegas casino app around.

M Life Rewards best bets

Sign up – You receive discounts on hotel rooms and pre-sale ticket purchasing opportunities just for signing up.

Go Pearl or Gold and skip parking fees – The $8 to $18 self-park and valet fees add up every stay. This is one of the benefits you can put a dollar figure on.

Get Bonus Points – Each Tier level you climb offers greater point multipliers. The rich get richer with M Life Rewards so you might as well enjoy it.

Priority Check-In – MGM Resorts casino are among the busiest in Las Vegas. Since the majority of customers are entry level tier status the check-in lines can be massive. Skip the huge lines when you’re Gold or better.

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Comped.com is dedicated to bringing casino players information to get the most bang for their buck when gambling. Casino comps and rewards are an important part of the casino experience that many uneducated gamblers ignore. Comps aren't just for high-stakes players, and we want to make sure our readers get the best casino comps and rewards regardless of how often they gamble.